Method and means for straightening printing plates



Sept. 17, 1929. w. E. HERMANCE METHODAND MEANS FOR STRAIGHTENING PRINTING PLATES Filed Aug. 15, 1927 Q H T 0T amoa OT mm uooaJJA 9101 3mm 3m alwon'l INVENTOR.

A TT RNEYS Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. HERMANCE, 0F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA; FRANCES ELLEN HERMANCE EXECUTRIX OF SAID WILLIAM E. HEBMANCE, DECEASED METHOD AND MEANS FOR STRAIGHTENING PRINTING PLATES Application filed August 13, 1927. Serial No. 212,801.

This invention relates generally to printing plates adapted to be readily mounted in a printing machine, such as disclosed in the Osborne Patent No. 1,628,630, issued May 10, 19,27, and more specifically to a tool so constructed as to greatly facilitate the operation of straightening and re-aligning any distorted lips 17' and 18, of such patented structure whereby to restore them to a condition necessary to readily receive the custornary printing strip carryingthe embossed indicia.

Plates of the character referred to are usually constructed of very light sheet metal, and, after considerable usage, or careless manipulations, the thin lips 17 and 18,as above referred to, often become sodistorted as to destroy the necessary parallelism therebetween, rendering itimpossible to slide'the printing strip into operative position. Under such circumstances it has hitherto been the custom to discard the relatively inexpensive distorted plate.

The object of the present invention therefore, is the provision of means adapted for manipulation to quickly and effectively restore to parallelism any distortedlips in the plate, and to the method of manipulating said means. 1

Other objects of the invention Will be made apparent in the fOllOWing specification, when read in connection with the drawings forming a part thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a printing plate such as referred to. 1

Fig. 2 is-a section on the line 22 0f Fig. 1. I T c Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the printing strip. 1

Fig. 41 is a section taken transversely through the strip shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the straightening tool. I

Now referring specifically to the drawing, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout he several views, 10 indicates the printing plate, formed of thin sheet metal, usually of tin or of a relatively cheap malleable alloy, and of inverted the bed of the printing machine, whereby to firmly retain the plate in position during the printing operation. I

As shown the plate is'provided with a plu rality of longitudinally extendingcorrugations 14', carrying lips 15 and "16 elevated above the body portion of the top 11. As particularly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the top wall of each corrugation 14 carries a row of the lips 15 on one side, and another row of thelips 16 on the other side of the central line of the said corrugations, thelips 15 and 16 projecting laterally from said line in diametrically-opposed directions and in staggered relation, and providing a space or grooves between the bottom face of each lip and the adjacent inclined wall of the corrugation 14:. i

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the printing strip 17 carrying type or other 4 indicia on its upper surface, the strip being formed of metal, and constructed with a lower troughlike surface defined by inwardly curved walls 18 adapted to fit over the lips15 and 16 on the plate 10, the relative proportions and construction being such as to ensure a close-fit between the strip 17 and the lips 15 and 16, whereby. to firmlyretain the strip in its operative position; It is extremely necessary for thestrip 17 to closely fit upon the lips 15 and 16 in order that it be held immovable during the printing operation, as will be understood. In removing the strips 17 for the application of another strip bearing different indicia, it has been customary to utilize a tool, such as a screw driver, to push thestrip longitudinally overand entirely off the lips 15'and 16, but'this operation necessitates a steady pressure which very often distorts said lips, resulting in serious difliculty when the new strip is to be applied.

The present invention provides a tool 19 adapted not only for the purposes, of straightening any distortion of the lips and 16 and restoring the latter to the proper configuration, but also useful inremoving the strips 17 from the plate 10. Said tool 19 is best shownin Fig. 5, and preferably comprises a block of tool steel provided on its lower surface with a longitudinally-ex tending raisedtrough 20 which is milled therein, and defined by vertically and inwardly extending walls2l. V The interior width and shape of the groove 20 is identical withthat of t he groove formed in the strip 17 and defined :by the; walls 18.

. A b'ail member '23, provided with an arm pivoted at 24 to each side of the tool 19, and a pull ,rod- 25., terminating in a ring or finger piece 26, is pivotally secured to the bail 23.. 1

In utilizing the tool 19 for the purpose of. restoringthe lips 15 and 16.to their original configurations in parallelism. each to each, the tool 19 is inverted from the position shown in Fig. 5 and the .front end of the groove 20 isplaced over the front end of one of the rows of lips 15 and 16. In this position the tool is forcibly pulled longitudinally of therow by means of the finger piece 26 and rod 25,andsuch action will obviously cause the inwardly extending flanges or walls 2l to pass under and in close contact with the top, bottom and side edges of the lips 15 and 16', and restore them to 'their'original configuration. Since the platev 10, and therefore the lips 15 and 16 are always formed of a material which is moreror less malleable, said lips retain their initial shape'after the tool has been pulled entirely along said row and removed therefrom, as will be clearly understood, and the lips will therefore be in such alignment that the new printing strip 17 may easily be placed inoperative position.

It is perfectly clear that the tool is equally useful in removing one or a plurality of printing strips 17 from the plate. In such use of the tool it is; operated in exactly the same manner as heretofore described, except that it is moved longitudinally of the row so that the forward ends of the walls 21 contact the endof any strip 17 which may be in position on the lips 15 and 16, and continued movement of the tool pushes the strip along the row of lips until the former is entirely removed.

a While I have herein described the tool 19 as equipped with only one longitudinal groove 20, it is obvious that aplurality of such grooves may be arranged in parallelism thereon, adapting the tool for use such that one operative movement thereof longitudinally of the plate 10 and in engagement with the lips 15 and 16, will simultaneously straighten the lips of a plurality of rows on the plate, or will remove any printmg strip mounted on any or all of said rows.

Modifications of the structure herein disclosed may be suggested to those skilled in the art, but my invention covers all embodiments falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A tool for aligning oppositely extending lips of printing strip holders, comprising a slide provided with a longitudinal channel having defining walls adapted for sliding engagement with the edges of oppositely positioned lips and with the top and bottom faces thereof.

.2. A tool for aligning oppositely extending lips of printing strip holders, comprising a slidable block provided with a longitudinal channel defined by vertically and inwardly directed flanges adapted to engage the top and bottom faces of said li s.

3. Atool for aligning oppositely extending lips of printing strip holders, comprisin a slidable block provided with a longitu inal channel defined by vertically and inwardly directed flanges adapted to engage the top and bottom faces and the edges of said lips.

4. A tool for aligning oppositely extending lips of printing strip holders, compris ing a slidable block provided with a longitudinal channel defined by vertically and inwardly directed flanges adapted to engage the top and bottom faces of said lips, and a handle connected to said block.

5. A tool for aligning oppositely extending lips of printing strip holders, comprising a slidable block provided with a longitudinal channel defined by vertically and inwardly directed flanges adapted to engage the top and bottom faces of said lips, a bail pivoted to said block, and a pull rod connectedto said handle.

6. A straightening tool for use on printing plates having lips arranged in a double row extending longitudinally of the plates and above the body thereof, comprising a member slidable over said row and provided with a channel having defining flanges adapted to contact the edges and the lower surfaces'of oppositely positioned lips.

7 A straightening tool for use on printing plates having lips arranged in a double row extending longitudinally of the plates and above the body thereof, comprising a member slidable over said row and provided with a channel spanning said double row and including a top portion contacting the top of oppositely positioned lips, and havmg defining flanges adapted to contact the edges of and the lower surface of said lips. 8. The method ofrestoring the alignment ture.

WILLIAM E. HERMANGE. 

